adminThe two, Samuel Masocha (26) and Timothy Mehluli Mpofu (32) had been serving time for other theft crimes at the Midlands-based prison before their short release which saw them commit a number of fresh unlawful entry and theft cases.
Mpofu was arrested two weeks ago after the police shot and injured him while he was trying to flee.
In a marathon trial, Mashocha and Mpofu who appeared in the dock with a bandaged leg, pleaded guilty to the 18 counts of unlawful entry and theft when they appeared before Gweru Provincial Magistrate, Mr Sithembinkosi Msipa.
They were each sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Each of them had three years of his sentence suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The other three years on each of the habitual thieves’ sentence were suspended on condition that they both pay $930 each to the 18 complainants on or before 31 July 2012.
For the State, Mr Michael Mhene said on 8 June 2012, police officers who were on night patrol in Mkoba Village Four suburb, came across the two as they were trying to gain entry into a house in the suburb.
Mr Mhene said the police gave chase to the two who then dropped their mobile phones as they took to their heels.
The court heard that the police later conducted some investigations using the cellphones and established that the two cellphones belonged to Mpofu and Masocha.
Mr Mhene said police also discovered that Mpofu and Masocha had just been released from prison where they were serving sentences on other theft crimes.
He said the police investigations later led to the arrest of Masocha.
Mr Mhene said Mpofu was arrested last week after police shot and injured him on the left leg as he tried to flee from them.
He said the two’s arrest helped the police clear 18 counts of unlawful entry and theft in and around the city of Gweru.
The two were targeting car radios, cellphone handsets, passports, and clothes, among their loot.
The value of property stolen amounted to $1 872 and only part of it was recovered.
Online Reporter